Church bus catches fire on I-65
A preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 12:54 a.m. a blue 2000 Herscher Christian Church Champion school bus was headed southbound on I-65 near the 243 mile marker when it had tire issues.
According to ISP, bus driver Sue Stevenson, 47, of Cabrey, Indiana pulled over onto the right shoulder just before the rear tire caught fire.
18 occupants including 16 teenagers and two chaperones were able to escape the bus minutes before it was fully engulfed in flames.
Troopers were able to transport all of the occupants to an establishment near the Lowell exit where they arranged transportation.
Southbound lanes were closed for approximately two hours to extingquish the fire and clean up the scene.
Assisting at the scene was the Crown Point Fire and EMS as well as Midnight Blue Towing.